BTC
+0.42%
77,843.00
USD
▲
MXN ≈ 1,346,048
cnbc.com
Anthropic, Microsoft in talks for AI chip deal after $5 billion investment
Microsoft has not made the Maia 200 chips available to customers, but it is used in the company's data centers, offering better efficiency than other silicon.
cnbc.com
Stellantis unveils $70 billion turnaround plan, targets positive cash flow by 2027
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa unveiled a new five-year strategic plan Thursday worth 60 billion euros ($69.7 billion).
bbc.com
Cheaper theme park tickets and children's meals as VAT to be cut for some attractions this summer
Chancellor Rachel Reeves made a series of announcements aimed at relieving cost-of-living pressures.
cnbc.com
Trump postpones AI executive order signing: 'I didn't like certain aspects'
Trump said that AI is "causing tremendous good," and he was concerned that the executive order "could have been a blocker."
cnbc.com
10-year Treasury yield is little changed as oil prices cool
Treasury yields came off their highs on Thursday as the rally in oil prices lost steam.
bbc.com
Walmart warns US shoppers are cutting spending as higher petrol prices bite
The retail giant said it expects customers to cut back in the coming months due to higher pump prices.
theguardian.com
Sadiq Khan sparks row with Met after blocking £50m AI deal with Palantir
Exclusive: Scotland Yard criticises London mayor’s decision as disappointing and warns it could hit policing Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50m Metropolitan police deal with the controversial US tech company Palantir, sparking a bitter row between the London mayor and Scotland Yard.After the UK’s largest police force had agreed to use Palantir’s AI technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations, Khan intervened, citing “serious concerns” about how the deal had been struck. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
An AI trade involving energy and infrastructure that's doubled your money, topping Nvidia
If you put the same money into a basket of companies that are building out AI infrastructure and energy sources, you’ve done much better than stocks like Nvidia.
cnbc.com
AI spending expected to top $1 trillion in 2 years. That estimate's way too low if Jensen Huang's right
"The capex is at a trillion dollars, and it's growing toward the three to four [trillion-dollar mark]," said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
cnbc.com
Oil prices pull back as investors hope for U.S.-Iran deal
Iran and the U.S. have made little progress toward a deal since they agreed to fragile ceasefire last month.
cnbc.com
Tesla brings 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' to China after years of delays as local EV rivals race ahead
Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' capabilities are now available in China, the company said in an X post on Thursday, after years of delays.
bbc.com
Cost of living measures 'missed opportunity', says Welsh first minister
Rhun ap Iorwerth says "deeper" action on energy prices would be better than the chancellor's moves.
theguardian.com
Reeves cuts VAT on summer days out to 5% as part of cost of living support
Chancellor says she will raise tax on global oil firms to help meet costs of plans and confirms delay to fuel duty increasesBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves will cut VAT to 5% on summer attractions such as theme parks and soft-play centres during the school holidays as she aims to ease the impact of the war in Iran on cash-strapped households.The chancellor told MPs on Thursday she would also raise more tax from global oil firms operating in the UK to help meet the costs of her plans. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
HS2 is the wildest white elephant in British history. Please put it out of its misery | Simon Jenkins
The government is in thrall to the sunk-cost fallacy. Scrap the project, and use the money for a renaissance in urban transitSo it is official, as if that makes a difference. After a 15-month review by the new chief executive, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has revealed that HS2 will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains may not start until 2039. Alexander called the original design a “massively over-specced folly” and called the increase in time and costs “obscene”. Indeed it possibly ranks as the wildest white elephant in British history. In comparison, Donald Trump’s White House ballroom is a garden shed, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa a mere sandcastle.This week, Alexander, the ninth transport secretary since HS2 was proposed, admitted the project made her angry. As she dusted off her department’s latest defence of its appalling conduct of this fiasco, she tried to feign surprise. She has been in office 18 months. Don’t tell us she did not know.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Quantum stocks soar as U.S. plans $2 billion funding incentives and equity stakes
Quantum computing shares popped as the U.S. government announced plans to award grants to nine firms operating in the space.
theguardian.com
Oil markets nearing ‘red zone’ as Iran crisis continues, warns IEA chief
Surging demand, low reserves and reduced Middle East exports predicted to cause global crunch by AugustOil markets will enter the “red zone” by July and August as stocks dwindle before the summer travel season amid a shortage of fresh oil exports from the Middle East, the executive director of the International Energy Agency warned on Thursday.Fatih Birol added that the most important solution to the Iran war energy shock was a full and unconditional reopening of the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Former boss of collapsed investment firm jailed for illegally selling hot tub
Michael Thomson admitted to breaching a restraining order by selling a range of luxury itemsThe former boss of the collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance (LC&F) has been imprisoned for six months for contempt of court, after admitting breaching a restraining order by selling luxury items including horse saddles and a hot tub.Michael Thomson’s actions were characterised by Judge Milne as an attack on the administration of justice. Thomson was sentenced alongside his wife, Debbie, who also admitted to the offences but whose six-month sentence was suspended for a period of two years. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ubisoft shares fall after Assassin’s Creed maker warns of further losses to come
Ubisoft shares fell on Thursday after the Assassin's Creed maker warned of further losses this year.
cnbc.com
Retail investors get direct access to SpaceX IPO through major brokerage platforms
SpaceX's blockbuster public offering is giving everyday traders access that has traditionally been reserved for Wall Street's biggest clients.
cnbc.com
Nvidia says it has ‘largely conceded’ China’s AI chip market to Huawei
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company has "largely conceded" China's advanced artificial intelligence chip market to Huawei.
theguardian.com
No evidence of formal security vetting when Andrew became UK trade envoy, minister says
Documents released by government also show late queen was ‘very keen’ for her son to have prominent roleUK politics live – latest updatesFormal security vetting and due diligence appear not to have been carried out before the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy, the government has said, as it emerged that the late queen was “very keen” for her son to take a prominent role in promoting Britain’s interests.The first batch of documents relating to the appointment of the then prince as trade envoy by Tony Blair in 2001 includes a memo dated 25 February 2000 and addressed to Robin Cook, the then foreign secretary, in which the then chief executive of British Trade International (BTI), David Wright, said Queen Elizabeth II’s “wish” had been for Mountbatten-Windsor to take on the role. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
LIV Golf seeks to raise up to $350 million from investors as post-PIF reality sets in
LIV Golf is preparing to take its updated business plan and investor pitch on the road as soon as Thursday, in an effort to raise fresh capital.
cnbc.com
Inflation fears are rippling through industrial metals. Here's where prices could go next
The moves came amid broader volatile trade in global bond and equity markets, faced with fears of resurgent inflation.
cnbc.com
SpaceX is heavily reliant on Starlink for growth and profit as it marches toward Nasdaq listing
SpaceX's IPO prospectus underscores the importance of Starlink to the company's operations.
theguardian.com
BT warns of smartphone price rises due to chip shortages from AI boom
Telecoms company CEO says tech firms are buying up memory chips to power datacentres relied on by AIBusiness live – latest updatesBT has said the cost of smartphones could rise as technology companies buy up semiconductor chips because of the boom in artificial intelligence, putting pressure on supply chains.The telecoms company’s chief executive, Allison Kirkby, said she was anticipating shortages as tech firms bought large quantities of memory chips to power the datacentres relied on by AI. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The main takeaways from Elon Musk’s plans for $1.75tn SpaceX flotation
Prospectus for tycoon’s sprawling empire reveals his plan to keep control – and ambition to colonise MarsSpaceX reveals plan for $1.75tn stock market debutBusiness live – latest updatesElon Musk’s SpaceX has revealed plans for a highly anticipated $1.75tn (£1.3tn) flotation next month as he seeks investor backing for his quest to make life “multiplanetary”.SpaceX is a sprawling business, encompassing the eponymous rocket launch company, the Starlink satellite broadband service, Musk’s xAI artificial intelligence startup and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘LA is not film friendly’: how Hollywood’s woes became a political cudgel in mayoral race
Troubled Baywatch reboot production echoes film-making woes in a city best known for its movie and TV industryThe fight for the future of Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, usually plays out in the grand art deco offices and committee rooms of city hall. But in an election year full of surprises, the most consequential battle may in fact have begun on a beach.And not just any beach: we’re talking about the fantasy sandbox inhabited by buff gym rats and sun-kissed bikini babes on Baywatch and its multiple spin-offs. In February, Los Angeles welcomed the latest incarnation of the hit TV show back to southern California after a long hiatus, including detours to Hawaii and Georgia. City officials heralded its return as a sign of better times for local film and television production following years of decline and tens of thousands of job losses in the heart of Hollywood. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Britain’s politicians need to worry less about the bond markets – and more about the Bank of England | Daniela Gabor
A new model of central banking would weaken the power of bond vigilantes – and help progressive politicians pay for transformative changeDaniela Gabor is professor of economics and macrofinance at Soas, University of LondonA spectre is haunting British politics: the bond markets.Defending Keir Starmer after the disastrous local election results earlier this month, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, warned that a leadership contest would trigger the wrath of those investors who lend the state money by buying and selling UK government bonds (also known as gilts). The prospect of Andy Burnham winning that contest prompted shriller warnings: the left-leaning contender, after all, had dared to suggest governments should stop “being in hock” to the bond markets.Daniela Gabor is professor of economics at Soas, University of London Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Air France and Airbus guilty of corporate manslaughter for 2009 plane crash
Firms given maximum fine of €225,000 each and are expected to appeal after lower court had cleared themA Paris appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash that killed 228 passengers and crew.The verdict is the latest milestone in a legal marathon involving two of France’s most emblematic companies and families of the mainly French, Brazilian and German victims of France’s worst air disaster. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Government pledges £120m to support ceramics firms
Rob Flello, boss of Ceramics UK, says the support recognises the importance of the industry.
cnbc.com
Oil market could enter ‘red zone’ by July as stocks dwindle ahead of summer travel season, IEA chief says
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the single most important solution to the Iran war energy shock is the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Iran reviews U.S. peace proposal as Trump says he’s willing to wait 'a few days'
It comes after President Donald Trump said he was prepared to wait a few more days to "get the right answers" from Tehran.
bbc.com
Chris Mason: VAT cut on summer fun - the announcement that didn't leak
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils measures aimed at helping families with the cost of living - but is it enough?
theguardian.com
JPMorgan banker countersues accuser, says sexual assault 'lies' ruined her life
Investment banker Lorna Hajdini says ex-colleague Chirayu Rana’s ‘malicious’ allegations ‘wreaked havoc’The JPMorgan Chase investment banker accused of sexual assault in an explosive lawsuit that went viral countersued her accuser, saying his malicious lies destroyed her reputation and “wreaked havoc” on her life.In papers filed on Tuesday night in a New York state court in Manhattan, Lorna Hajdini said her former colleague Chirayu Rana fabricated allegations that she raped and drugged him, in order to attract maximum press coverage, cause her pain and extract millions of dollars from her and JPMorgan. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump has created a slush fund of taxpayer money to give to his friends | Moira Donegan
The ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ is an extraordinary example of bald self-dealingDonald Trump is stealing almost $2bn in taxpayer money and handing it out to his friends. That’s the upshot of the president’s recent agreement following a $10bn lawsuit he brought in his personal capacity against the IRS, an agency that he oversees. Trump brought the suit over leaks of some documents from his tax returns to the press. To resolve the suit, the justice department will create a fund of nearly $1.8bn – a wildly outsized figure compared with Trump’s somewhat flimsily alleged injuries – that can be doled out to Trump allies. The Guardian describes the fund as “loosely controlled and secretive”, but members of the Trump administration have not ruled out January 6 insurrectionists as possible awardees.The so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” will be administered by four commissioners appointed by Trump’s attorney general and one appointed “in consultation” with congressional leadership – Trump, who can fire the commissioners, will have ultimate control. It will have the authority to issue formal apologies for alleged mistreatment of conservative political actors by previous administrations – ie, those few who were prosecuted or sued during the Biden era. When Trump leaves office, any remaining money will not be available for his successor to use similarly, but will instead be distributed back to the federal government. But I doubt that there will be any remaining money. We may never know either way: there is no requirement that the fund’s work be made public, and required reports to the attorney general on its conduct are to be confidential. In addition to the creation of this massive slush fund, the agreement also requires that the IRS drop all audits of Trump and his family.Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK service sector activity slumps in one of sharpest declines for a decade
Firms hit by ‘perfect storm’ of uncertainty about Labour leadership and impact of Iran warBusiness live – latest updatesCompanies in the UK’s dominant services sector have reported one of the sharpest declines in business activity in a decade, according to a closely watched index.Businesses are grappling with a “perfect storm” of domestic political uncertainty around Keir Starmer’s leadership as prime minister and the growing impact of the Iran war, leading to soaring costs, supply shortages and job cuts, the report said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Wes Streeting pledges 'wealth tax that works'
Wes Streeting is proposing reforms to capital gains tax, as part of his pitch for the Labour leadership.
bbc.com
Nvidia's latest record earnings fail to impress investors
The chip giant reported more stellar results but its shares fell after-hours as investors wonder if it can keep up its pace of growth amid greater competition.
bbc.com
EasyJet boss says summer flights won't be hit by jet fuel shortages
The airline has seen no problems with fuel, but says people are booking later because of uncertainty caused by the Iran war.
theguardian.com
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is not the climate guy you thought | Seth Klein
While Canada may be clinging to fossil fuels, much of the world is moving onCasual international observers would be forgiven for assuming Canada is in the comforting hands of a climate champ. After all, while climate policy rollbacks reign supreme in Donald Trump’s America, Canada is now led by a man who, while serving as governor of the Bank of England, delivered a celebrated 2015 speech, “Breaking the tragedy of the horizon”, warning the global investment community of the financial risks of climate change; who went on to serve as UN special envoy for climate action and finance; and whose 2022 book Value(s) had much to say about the “existential threat” of climate change. A man who recently dazzled the world with his Davos speech on how middle powers can stand up to global bullies.Look, we get it. Next to the US president, Carney seems so debonair, thoughtful and calm – a lifeline of stability in a volatile new world.Seth Klein is a Canadian climate writer and activist, author of the book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency, and former team lead of the Climate Emergency Unit. His newsletter can be found here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Europe doesn't realize how dangerous it is': Telecoms CEO warns of U.S. dominance in satellites, AI
Europe is vulnerable with a non-state actor like Starlink having the power to switch off the continent's connectivity.
theguardian.com
‘I knew everyone here’: the tower block with 164 boarded-up homes – and a few residents who just won’t leave
Lund Point in east London was once ‘a beautiful community’, according to Tee Fabikun, who has lived there since 1997. Now just four flats are occupied. Why are Fabikun and her friends hanging on? And what happened to the long-promised redevelopment?Tee Fabikun is sitting in an armchair in her cosy, homely flat, surrounded by her things – papers and letters, family photos, a few Nigerian handicrafts, a forest of houseplants by the window. She is telling me about her neighbours here on the fifth floor of Lund Point, a tower block on the Carpenters estate in Stratford, east London. Next door there’s “a grumpy old man”; well, she thought he was a grumpy old man, but then she saw him in the lift with his granddaughter and he was sweet with her, so maybe he’s not so bad. “There’s always two sides.”In the next flat along is a young couple who met in the building, maybe in that lift. She was living on a higher floor, but moved down and in with him when they got married, and rented out her place. Then there’s a Bangladeshi family who only speak a little English. Fabikun’s first contact with them was when their daughter knocked on the door holding out an exercise book and just said “homework”; after that Fabikun would often help with her studies. And so on. And it’s not just her immediate neighbours on the fifth floor that Tee knows; she knows pretty much everyone in the 21-storey block. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves hits back at petrol station heckler – video
Rachel Reeves was repeatedly shouted at by a heckler while she was answering questions from the media at a petrol station in Leeds. As the man drove away in a truck with two St George’s flags on the roof, still shouting, the chancellor responded, saying: 'I love our country', and that his lack of manners was 'not very British'UK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UK-Gulf trade deal a 'monumental achievement,' Bahrain industry minister tells CNBC
Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro said the deal was a win-win for the U.K. and Gulf states.
bbc.com
UK agrees £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states
The deal will remove an estimated £580m worth of tariffs from British exports, but rights groups are critical
cnbc.com
AMD to invest $10 billion in Taiwan's AI industry to advance top-end chips
AMD's investments will focus on partnerships with companies to "advance" chip packaging and manufacturing required for next-generation AI infrastructure.
cnbc.com
SoftBank Group shares soar 20% as Nvidia earnings signal strong AI momentum
SoftBank Group is closely tied to the AI boom through its stake in Arm Holdings, whose chip designs are used in AI servers and data centers powered by Nvidia systems.
bbc.com
TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom
YouTube said it worked with experts to provide appropriate experiences. TikTok said it was disappointed Ofcom had not acknowledged its safety features.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia aims to have its 'five layer cake' of AI and eat it too
Nividia CEO Jensen Huang tells CNBC the company is massively expanding its supply chain to meet AI demand.
theguardian.com
All this talk about ‘difficult’ cuts, yet the largest part of Britain’s welfare bill is never mentioned. Why? | Zoe Williams
Pensioners vote and young people don’t, so the truism goes. That’s no longer any reason to avoid dealing with the triple lockNothing makes you feel more like a de-developing nation than being reprimanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rachel Reeves can take solace in trace amounts from the fact that the IMF advised her only to “stay the course” on spending limits – whatever energy or inflation crises are down the line, she shouldn’t cave to demands for government support. Basically, “when the facts change, do not change your mind” – the opposite of the economists’ classic, but then, haven’t we all had enough of classics?It’s a milder rebuke than the one delivered to the then chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, in 2022, about which the BBC’s economics editor, Faisal Islam, admitted “even I was taken aback”, creating a ripple effect: other, lesser economy-watchers were taken aback at the abackness that had taken the unflappable Islam. But it still has a sting in its tail, enjoining Reeves to keep her focus on “controlling the rising welfare bill, as well as delivering further efficiency measures in public services, while protecting the most vulnerable”.Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Japan’s megabanks post record profits, but analysts warn growth may slow as risks mount
Japan's largest lenders may face some challenges to keep profit levels at record highs, amid higher credit costs and current geopolitical risks
bbc.com
Elon Musk's X fined for not complying with Australia's child protection laws
The social media giant will pay A$650,000 plus legal costs, ending a three-year legal saga.
bbc.com
Samsung strike on hold as workers push for AI bonus
The walkout, which was due to start on Thursday, has been suspended while union members vote on a tentative deal.
bbc.com
SpaceX files for stock market debut that could make Elon Musk a trillionaire
Musk's rocket-maker and satellite internet provider will trade under the ticker SPCX
theguardian.com
Schools are ‘pipeline’ to joblessness for many people, says ex-Labour adviser
Ban social media and reform education to tackle scandal of young people not in work or study, says Peter HymanSchools have become a “pipeline” to worklessness for a large cohort of young people in the UK, according to an influential former Labour adviser who has called for urgent action to help a “lost generation”.Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, told the Guardian the government should ban social media and enact radical education reform to tackle the “national scandal” of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Aramco is selling our sweat and blood’: workers in World Cup sponsor’s supply chain faced safety risks, report finds
FairSquare report claims migrant workers injured in Saudi Arabia received no compensation, including one who says his legs were crushedLying in a hospital bed in Saudi Arabia, his legs encased in plaster casts, Shrawan Shah Rauniyar clung to the hope that at least he would be fairly compensated. After all, when his legs were crushed under a giant metal beam that fell off a forklift, he was working on a project belonging to one of the most profitable companies in the world: Saudi Aramco.Rauniyar, a migrant worker from Nepal, was not employed directly by the state-owned energy company, but like tens of thousands of other migrant workers in the Gulf kingdom, he worked for a small labour supply company, which sent him to work on a project managed by the Italian firm Saipem, which in turn was contracted to Aramco. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Three key takeaways from Putin's Beijing trip — and what they reveal about China-Russia ties
Putin left Beijing with declarations of enduring friendship with China and a stack of bilateral agreements — but without the energy breakthrough Moscow desperately sought.
bbc.com
The young people rejecting a bank-breaking prom
Teenage entrepreneurs at Huntington School change the way pupils shop for a prom dress.
theguardian.com
England must harvest rainfall and take action on water usage, Lords warn
Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell governmentRainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday.Changes to building regulations to require new homes to achieve a maximum water usage of 105 litres a person a day and accelerated grey water reuse.Nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs and reconnecting rivers to their natural flood plains to enhance water retention.An urgent awareness campaign for the whole of society to reduce water usage.A full environmental and economic assessment of drought to weigh the cost of inaction against the value of resilience.The rolling out of nature-based solutions more widely in urban and rural settings. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We feel let down’: sustainable chefs in UK mourn end of Michelin green star
Guide retires award for eco-friendly practices – and says restaurants will no longer be able to advertise they have itWith rare bluefin tuna and red meat often on their menus, Michelin-starred restaurants have not always prioritised sustainability.In an effort to consider the climate crisis, in 2020 Michelin began awarding green stars to chefs who cooked eco-friendly ingredients and reduced waste. But now the body has abruptly retired the prize and said chefs will no longer be able to advertise that they have it. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
AI frenzy sees these European stocks gain over 100% this year in blockbuster rally
Europe has long lagged behind the U.S. and China in AI, but these stocks are riding the wave of investor interest.
theguardian.com
‘Give every item a long life’: Vinted boss on how the site is moving beyond fashion
Having shaken up UK clothes retail, the secondhand marketplace is pushing into phones and cameras – and even booksOnce the preserve of jumble sales and charity shops, “preloved” fashion and homewares are now leading style and shopping trends in the UK. After the rapid growth of online retail, Britain is now witnessing “the normalisation of secondhand”, according to Adam Jay, the chief executive of Vinted’s main marketplace arm – a key driver of the trend in recent years.The UK is at the forefront of an international revolution, jostling for position with France to be Vinted’s biggest market, and is also one of its fastest growing markets, as the online marketplace moves beyond just selling clothes and into everything from smartphones and books to rugs. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: India’s investment appeal dims as firms and funds pivot to the U.S.
AI-driven growth and 'America-first' policies are pulling global capital to the U.S., challenging India's appeal as the fastest-growing economy.
bbc.com
The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches
Campaigners in Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica say they can no longer access their coastlines.
theguardian.com
Manchester shows biggest fall in inner-city deprivation in boost for Burnham
City made outsized contribution to falling levels of deprivation between 2010 and 2025, thinktank finds Manchester has recorded the biggest fall in inner-city deprivation in Britain, according to a report, as Andy Burnham stakes a claim that he could replicate the city’s revival nationwide.As the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer, the Greater Manchester mayor has placed the city’s economic performance at the heart of his campaign, describing “Manchesterism” as a political philosophy for a more interventionist approach to the economy. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nvidia’s revenue blows past Wall Street expectations as AI boom accelerates
Many analysts view company’s financial performance as a broader referendum on AI buildoutNvidia continued its years-long streak of beating Wall Street’s expectations for growth on Wednesday, reassuring most investors that the AI boom, particularly the global explosion of datacenters, will continue apace.“The buildout of AI factories – the largest infrastructure expansion in human history – is accelerating at extraordinary speed,” said Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, in a statement. “Agentic AI has arrived, doing productive work, generating real value, and scaling rapidly across companies and industries.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Woman's debts reach £26k as she battles poverty
Gaynor Lake tells how she struggled to pay for heating, rent and council tax and saw her debts grow.
cnbc.com
UAE says new pipeline that will bypass Strait of Hormuz is nearly 50% complete
The UAE has redirected some oil exports through an existing pipeline to Fujairah, which has a maximum capacity of 1.8 million barrels per day.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Britain and Europe: a changing world demands new terms of debate | Editorial
The world has changed dramatically since the Brexit referendum and politics needs to catch upThe spectacle of a prime minister clinging to power while his party grows increasingly desperate for a replacement is painfully familiar from the end of the last Tory government. British politics feels trapped in a loop. This condition is not wholly a result of Brexit, but the failure of that project is a significant part of it. None of the benefits promised in the referendum by the leave campaign have materialised. It is all downside, but political discussion of any significant rewriting of the terms of departure is taboo. Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” of European relations is mostly tinkering at the margins.Meanwhile, the strategic calculus has changed entirely since 2016. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine exposed European complacency about continental defence and energy security. Donald Trump’s aggressive contempt for old allies makes it clear that they cannot depend on the US for protection.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here Continue reading...
bbc.com
Are supermarkets profiting from higher food prices?
Food prices in the UK have risen, but are supermarkets profiting from higher food prices? Ben Chu reports.
theguardian.com
Meghan Markle’s anniversary candle: who wouldn’t want to pay $64 to celebrate someone else’s marriage?
It smells like sunshine, blue skies and love and laughter, apparently. And it’s all in aid of her and Harry’s eight years togetherName: Anniversary candle.Appearance: A “modern and elegant” candle, “housed in a beautiful ceramic vessel”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Supermarkets hit back over pressure to cap price of milk, bread and eggs
A minister confirms talks have taken place but says there will be no mandatory cap on essential food prices.
cnbc.com
Jeff Bezos says bottom half of earners should pay zero in income taxes
Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos on Wednesday called for zero federal income taxes on the bottom half of earners.
theguardian.com
The Treasury’s supermarket food price cap wheeze was bananas | Nils Pratley
Retailers such as M&S need not worry – the UK is not in a state of emergency and competition is clearly workingCall for food price caps ‘preposterous’, says M&S boss“Completely preposterous,” said Stuart Machin, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer, about the Treasury’s proposal for voluntary price caps on food staples. He was outdone in the outrage stakes by City analyst Clive Black at Shore Capital, who thought the government “appears to be losing its mind in an orgy of neo-Soviet policy ideas”.Both men can probably calm down. First, it’s not the first time a panicky administration, feeling the heat from cost-of-living pressures caused by rising energy costs, has flirted with the notion of limited and voluntary price caps in supermarkets. The last time was 2023 under the Tory premiership of Rishi Sunak, who is few people’s idea of a neo-Soviet apparatchik. Second, as with Sunak’s dalliance, it’s not going to happen. Treasury ministers on Wednesday barely bothered to defend their proposal and ruled out a mandatory scheme. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Martin Rowson on the spiralling cost of HS2 – cartoon
Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tell us: how open are you about money with your partner?
Are you or you partner a secret spender? Take part in our experimentWe’re looking for couples, who don’t often open up about their finances with each other, to take part in an experiment for the Saturday magazine. Maybe you have a ridiculous Pret habit you don’t mention to your boyfriend or you’re hooked on online shopping and have never revealed the extent of your spending to your wife. Or maybe the two of you have simply never sat down and discussed what you scrimp on and where you splash out.If this sounds like you – and you’d be willing to record and share money diaries with each other in the presence of a Guardian journalist – get in touch and we can share more information. We would run these interviews anonymously. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK waters down new Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise
The change reflects increasing supply concerns over certain fuels due to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Fuel duty freeze extended until the end of the year
Fuel duty was initially cut by 5p in March 2022, under the Conservative government.
cnbc.com
College career path ‘over’ as skilled trade get 30% pay bump, recruitment giant says
"I would say you can make a good career and good money in skilled trade. That's definitely a career track," CEO of world's largest recruitment firm told CNBC.
theguardian.com
Xi and Putin highlight close China-Russia ties during Beijing visit – video
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have praised relations between their countries. During Putin's two-day visit to Beijing, bilateral talks between the leaders reaffirmed Russia and China as close partners in trade and international affairsXi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet in Beijing less than a week after Trump visit Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I don’t worry about a robot takeover’: AI expert Michael Wooldridge on big tech’s real dangers (and occasional blessings)
Almost 50 years after he first got his hands on a computer, the Oxford professor still believes in the power of technology. Can his beloved game theory explain why Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurs consistently misuse it?Michael Wooldridge is like the teacher you wish you’d had: approachable, able to explain difficult things in simple terms, neither dauntingly highbrow nor off-puttingly cool, and genuinely enthusiastic about what he does. “I love it when you see the light go on in somebody, when they understand something that they didn’t understand before,” he says. “I find that incredibly gratifying.”He comes across a regular sort of guy, which, as an Oxford professor with more than 500 scientific articles and 10 books to his name, he clearly isn’t. Typically, his favourite work is his contribution to Ladybird’s Expert Books – an update of the classic children’s series – on artificial intelligence. “I’m very proud of this,” he says, as he hands me a copy from his bookshelf. We’re in his study in the University of Oxford’s somewhat municipal computing department on a sunny spring day. Maybe it’s the campus setting, but our discussion almost takes the form of a seminar. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Six problems with tax-free childcare
Parents can can claim up to £2,000 a year for each child – but many are put off by the clunkiness of the scheme Any parent who has ever used the UK government’s tax-free childcare system knows what a painful experience it is. Each month when I log into my account, I feel a sense of dread and frustration. Why is something that is such a lifeline for so many parents so difficult to use?The scheme gives working parents an extra £2 for every £8 they spend on childcare. You can claim up to £2,000 a year for each child (or up to £4,000 a year for a disabled child). Continue reading...
bbc.com
Inflation falls to 2.8% but is expected to rise from here
Energy prices were lower due to the government's energy bill support package and lower wholesale prices before the Iran war.
bbc.com
TV presenter says abusive ex gave her no access to her own money
Ruth Dodsworth's former husband was jailed for coercive and controlling behaviour and stalking.
cnbc.com
AI boom reshuffles global stock market pecking order as South Korea and Taiwan surge
A global reshuffling in stock-market hierarchy is underway. AI is propelling Taiwan and South Korea past a couple long-established Western countries.
theguardian.com
Tell us: are you struggling to save enough to retire?
The Pensions Commission said 15 million people were currently not saving adequately for their retirementFifteen million people are currently not saving enough for their retirement, according to the Pensions Commission, who have warned this could rise to as many as 19 million without action.The independent group of experts warned as many as 45% of working-age adults were not saving into a pension at all, despite nearly half of them being in work. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Spooks hotel’: inside the five-star nerve centre of the US takeover of Venezuela
Diplomats, businessmen and US marines mingle at the JW Marriott hotel in Caracas as deals are done and the country’s resources divvied upOver breakfast in one of the swankiest hotels in Caracas, you can hear them mulling Venezuela’s past, present and future in sporadically hushed tones. As diners tuck in to plates of fried eggs, black beans and arepas, snatched fragments of conversation speak of election roadmaps, political fragmentation and oil-fuelled economic growth.But the murmured discussions are not being conducted in Caribbean Spanish by Venezuelan officials pondering their country’s direction after the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. The accents are North American and belong to the US officials, diplomats and spies now calling many of the shots here after Donald Trump’s controversial military intervention on 3 January. Neighbouring tables are occupied by huddles of musclebound US marines, tattoos covering their bulging calves, baseball caps covering their heads, and walkie-talkies strapped to their hips. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I believed sustainable fashion’s hype. But between Everlane and Allbirds, the letdowns keep coming | Clare Press
Sustainability promised to change the industry. With Shein reportedly acquiring Everlane, and Allbirds pivotting from eco sneakers to AI, it seems that promise was mostly marketingIt was always about the money, wasn’t it? For a while there, it seemed like the execs opining sustainability is not a trend, it’s the future actually meant it. But when yet another global brand drops its net zero goals or stops talking about DEI, you do wonder. Recent headlines include Stella McCartney adulterating her eco gloss with a sustainable capsule collection for H&M – don’t worry, she’s just “infiltrating from within” – and Lululemon being investigated for Pfas. The letdowns keep coming.Now the internet is reeling from a report that Shein plans to acquire Everlane, the San Francisco-based sustainable basics brand built on “radical transparency”. Shein is the Chinese ultra-fast fashion giant epitomising murky supply chains and crazy-cheap landfill fashion. They release up to 10,000 styles a day, and have been making headlines of their own over secrecy and alleged links to forced Uyghur labour. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The door to the future of Gaza is still closed’: Trump’s reconstruction promises stall
Diplomatic impasse and lack of progress on the ground has left countries that pledged funds to Board of Peace reluctant to payGaza is in a grim limbo more than seven months after Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire deal: no reconstruction is under way, the so-called Board of Peace is struggling with funding and Palestinian technocrats chosen to run the strip are sidelined in Egypt.In a 15 May submission to the UN security council, the Board of Peace said the “principal obstacle” to realising Trump’s plan for Gaza was Hamas’s refusal to hand over its weapons and cede control of the strip – but several people familiar with the body said funding shortfalls could jeopardise the effort. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Ghost brokers' targeting 17 to 25 year-olds with fake car insurance online
The finance watchdog warns bogus brokers are selling fake car insurance through social media.
bbc.com
Boss of Sarah Ferguson-linked firm used royal links to threaten worker with jail
In a recording obtained by the BBC, the worker was threatened with jail for allegedly hacking emails at lifestyle app vVoosh.
bbc.com
China confirms it will buy 200 Boeing jets after Trump-Xi summit
The two sides will also work towards an extension to the tariffs truce they agreed in October, China's Commerce Ministry said.
theguardian.com
Did Trump really rescue Venezuela? – podcast
Tom Phillips on life in the country four months after the US abduction of the former president Nicolás Maduro“The last time I flew out of Venezuela was right at the start of August 2024, just after the disputed presidential election,” the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips, tells Annie Kelly.“It was a moment of real turmoil. There was a huge wave of repression that was unfolding as Nicolás Maduro tried to silence any kind of dissent to his bogus claim to have won that election. Thousands were thrown in prison, many were going underground, and journalists were racing to get out of the country.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK should set maximum working temperature rules, advisers say
Successive governments have failed to prepare the UK for extreme heat, the climate watchdog says.
bbc.co.uk
Business Daily
Trump's pick for the US Fed chair risks rebuke from the president if rates do not fall
theguardian.com
Can Burnham turn ‘Manchesterism’ into a practical offer for government?
Roots of idea for ‘ending neoliberalism’ have been growing over many months – with many different influencesManchesterism is “the end of neoliberalism”. That was the claim made by Andy Burnham in his campaign launch video this week – a film which made an audacious offer not just to his byelection constituents in Makerfield, but how he intended to change national politics and the economy.But the 2026 doctrine of Manchesterism is very different to its 19th-century namesake, when it was a byword for free trade. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
NS&I to contact bereaved families owed £367m after missing savings scandal
The bank’s interim chief executive says ‘this issue should never have happened’, but warns it may take time to process claimsNational Savings and Investments bank will start to contact thousands of families affected by a missing savings scandal next week, as it confirmed how much they are owed.In March, the chief executive of the state-backed bank was forced out after it emerged there had been long-running problems with the tracing of accounts belonging to customers who had died. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I sold it for over £1k': Why people want new Swatch
The launch of an exclusive pocket watch has sparked a frenzy that forced stores worldwide to close and in some cases saw police officers and security deal with huge unruly crowds.
bbc.com
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
bbc.com
'I sold it for over £1k': Swatch launch sparks 'chaotic' scenes
Some shoppers have been trying to resell a new line of watches priced at £335 each for up to £16,000.
bbc.com
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
bbc.com
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
bbc.com
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
bbc.com
Big tech bets on new mascots in bid to seem more cuddly
The likes of Apple, Microsoft and Google are all putting cartoon characters centre stage.
bbc.com
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
bbc.com
Not so dusty: How tech is changing woodworking
Woodworking shops have been transformed by tech to make tools safer and more precise.
bbc.com
Cyber-crime increasingly coming with threats of physical violence
While hackers used to sneak into computer systems, intimidation of staff is now more common.
bbc.com
How sunburn inspired a new way to store energy
Molecules that can capture heat could be a useful technology to decarbonise heating.
bbc.com
How Sir David Attenborough built 'Green Hollywood'
The city is responsible for 80% of the world's natural history TV shows.
bbc.com
Gulf economies face long-term hit from Iran conflict
Commentators say it will take years or even decades to repair the damage.
bbc.com
Robots move in as waste firms struggle to find staff
Humanoid robots are being added to the automation of waste sorting.
bbc.com
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
bbc.com
Will AI lead to more accurate opinion polls?
It's cheaper and faster to collect people's opinions using AI, but will it make polls more accurate?
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
💬 Comments